MCDOWELL COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS) — News 13 has spoken to many homeowners who have signed up for the buyout. Officials told them Helene buyouts would come faster. But after more than a year, the program has not delivered a single buyout offer or approved funds for any county.
Bethany Hollifield, her husband, and two young children have been living in the basement of her mom’s home in Marion since Hurricane Helene hit in 2024.
“It’s hard whenever your kids look at you and say all they want for Christmas is a new house,” Hollifield said. “And you can’t give that to them because the government is taking so long on their end of the process.”…